p. 13 | In the Roman-Swiss Conference by Guy Dail

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 21, 1909

In the Roman-Swiss Conference

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

THE twenty-fourth annual session of the Roman-Swiss (the old Central European) Conference was held August 16-21, at Yverdon, a city of nearly ten thousand inhabitants. The camp was beautifully located in an orchard near the town. The outside interest was the largest we ever had in Switzerland, as many as six or seven hundred strangers coming to the public lectures. There were about three hundred fifty of our own people present. Eleven were baptized Sabbath afternoon. In the revival service of the morning, about sixty came forward for prayer. It was gratifying to see the spirit of union that prevailed, and to note how many promising young people were on the grounds, and to witness the liberality that characterized the brethren in their efforts to assist the Latin Union school secure its own permanent quarters, to which over ten thousand seven hundred francs was pledged and three hundred francs given in cash.

Little Roman- or French-Switzerland has ever been a great financial strength to our work in the Latin Union Conference. To-day the conference not only gives two tithes to the union conference to aid in carrying on the evangelization of the union mission fields, but it carries the wage of the head teacher in the union school at Gland, and supports a laborer in the Northern France Mission. One might almost think that, in their attitude toward the Latin Union Missions, the five hundred sixty-four members of this small conference were in some ways trying to follow the example of the illustrious Pestalozzi, whose monument is before his old school at Yverdon, and of whom it is said: “His greatest merit is that he set an example of absolute self-abnegation, that he lived with his pupils, played, starved, and suffered with them.” It was from 1805-25 that this self-sacrificing man worked and labored for the children here in Yverdon. Such devotion as he showed to his work will enable us in all parts of the world to be successful in bringing others into present truth.

The labors of the young people in scattering literature have been crowned with much success in some of the Roman-Swiss churches. In one place over four hundred francs net income has been realized from the distribution of the French Signs of the Times by the youth alone. We believe that missionary effort of this kind will prove a great blessing to those who take part in it, desiring only the honor of God. This will aid us in practically educating missionaries; and the large French-speaking colonies must be worked by those who are masters of the language. We look with hope to the youth of French-Switzerland, expecting that they will so dedicate their powers to the Master's service that we shall see many of them volunteering for hard, active labor at the front. Although the country is small, so far as territory is concerned, yet there are whole cantons, especially in the Italian-speaking districts, that we have as yet not touched by ministerial labor, and there is still plenty of room for the students of the Gland school to get a practical experience in the field at home, before they are called to take up the cross in remote and unfavorable climes.

The assistance of the ten native workers at the meeting, as well as the efforts of the visiting brethren (Elders L. R. Conradi and J. N. Loughborough of the General Conference, and Elder L. P. Tieche, president of the Latin Union

Conference), was encouraging, helpful, and upbuilding. The people have gained a new experience in the things of God. Last year fifty-three were received into membership in this field. Elder Joseph Curdy was re-elected president, and we believe that he, with his fellow laborers, and all the dear Roman-Swiss brethren will be able to go forth to their labor this year with renewed courage and faith in the final triumph of the message among the eight hundred thousand inhabitants of their conference. Just now there is quite a standstill in the watch-making business, so that financially times are rather hard; but we know that if these things drive the workers and the people to God in earnest prayer, the scripture will be fulfilled which assures those that love him that all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28), and the publishing, the educational, and the sanitarian work will see still greater blessing in the future, and many souls will be gathered in to prepare to meet their God.

Vergeze, France.